We can get started.

David.

Okay, thank you.

I'd like to welcome everyone and call tonight zoning board meeting to order.

I'm David Stein, Chair of the Zoning Board, and it is now 63 on October 6, 2025.

The members of the zoning board and the staff are holding this meeting by Teams Video Conference.

The public is in attendance both on video conference and by teleconference.

I'd like to do a roll call of the board and the staff first.

Here.

Roseanne McManus.

Here.

Jerry Bozak.

Present.

Okay, we have all of our board members.

Ralph Blessing.

Here.

And Vanita Monter.

Here.

Okay.

The staff is all here.

The board's microphones will be open throughout tonight's meeting.

The applicant's mics will be open during the public hearing when their application is being heard.

However, we would ask the applicant to please mute their mics when not speaking in order to reduce background noise.

The first part of tonight's meeting is the public hearing during which the public will have the opportunity to speak.

Each member of the public may be will be muted until it is your turn to speak.

Here's the procedure for the public to let us know that you would like to speak.

If you came in through Teams, please use the raise your hand function and you will be unmuted when it's your turn to speak.

If you called in on one of the telephone conference call phone numbers, please press star five and this will raise your hand.

Then press star six to unmute when you were called on to speak.

When members of the public speak, please give us your name and address for the record and whether you are in favor of or opposed to the application.

The board requests that members of the public limit your comments to three minutes so that everyone will have a chance to speak.

Um who will do her best to get you on.

And that email address is the as in Victor, the MATHUR at Stanford CT.gov.

This meeting is being recorded and will be posted on the zoning board's website.

You can find the agenda for tonight's meeting and the meeting applications and other materials by going to our website, which is at WWW.stamfordCT.gov slash zoning.

That is correct.

Okay.

So therefore application 225-27 is continued until October 20th, 2025 zoning board meeting, 630 p.m.

on uh microsoft teams.

The next public hearing we have is application 225-15, Woodway Pines, LLC, 9 and 15 Woodway Road, and 0, 1321 and 1325 Hope Street, site and architectural plans and/or requested uses and special permit.

Applicant is seeking to consolidate all five parcels into one and construct 20 townhouse style units located in three separate buildings.

Sure.

David Stein, Chair City of Stanford Zoning Board regarding ZD application number 225-15 Woodway Pines LLC.

Dear Mr.

Stein and members of the zoning board, during its regularly scheduled meeting held on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025, the Planning Board reviewed the above captioned application, referred in accordance with the requirements of the Stanford Charter.

Applicant is seeking to consolidate all five parcels into one and construct 20 townhouse style units located in three separate buildings.

Joseph Capalbo Esquire made a presentation and answered questions from the board.

After some discussion, the planning board unanimously voted to recommend approval of ZB application 225-15 and found this to be in general harmony with master plan category number three residential low density multifamily.

Sincerely Stanford Planning Board Jay Tepper, Vice Chair.

Great, thank you.

Did we receive the certificate of mailing for this application?

Yes, you did.

And we received the sign affidavit.

Yes.

Okay.

Can we uh promote attorney Capalbo to participant then?

Uh yes.

Uh he should be able to unmute and put his video on.

There we go.

So you're muted right now.

There you go.

I'm sorry, everything froze.

I had to go out and come back in.

I apologize.

Um good evening, everybody.

My name is Joseph Capalbo.

I'm an attorney practicing law here in Stanford, and I'm representing the applicant this evening, Woodway Pines LLC.

And here tonight are also, I believe, online somewhere are um a gentleman named Moon Chung, who is the uh managing member of Woodway Pines.

Lendy Andrew is here with me uh at my office this evening.

I think Matt Pop, uh, as you know, the uh landscape design architect is also somewhere um on as well.

And we're all obviously available to answer questions.

Um Woodway Pines is proposing to construct 20 townhouse style dwelling units uh on the corner of um Hope Street and Woodway Road.

And um Vedita, if I could share my screen.

Um share.

Okay.

There it goes.

See it.

Not yet.

No.

How about now?

No.

I see it.

Well good.

At least one of us sees it.

I'll try again.

Share screen.

Okay.

There it is.

All right.

Okay.

So this particular property, as I said, is on the corner of uh Woodway Road and Hope Street.

Um it's presently five properties.

It's composed of five separate properties.

Um here's Woodway Road, Hope Street, one, two, three, four, five.

Um on the corner, right here is a gas service station, right?

Um, the total area on this property collectively is uh 1.357 acres.

Um, according to the um master plan designation, it's in category designation three, which is low density multifamily.

So according to the planning board, as you recently heard, this proposal is consistent with the master plan and the planning board did recommend approval.

The property also is in zoning designation RM1.

And as you know, the purpose of RM1 is uh it's a multifamily design district and it's set aside to protect areas which have been or may be developed predominantly for low density multifamily dwellings of various types.

And um, these districts may be located adjacent to um single family districts to provide a logical transition.

With respect to that, the two points I'd like to make is that this is properties already zoned RM1, so we're not asking for any type of map or zone change.

And two, uh, as a result of that, this is exactly this proposal is exactly what is intended by the RM1 zone.

Um and um what should be anticipated for uh an application uh on this particular site.

Um the regulation, that specific regulation mentions that uh this should be used as a uh you know a transition type uh zone.

And if we look at the aerial map, we'll see the property um that we're talking about is right here, right?

So this is the gas station.

This is Hope Street, Woodway Road.

So across the street on Hope Street, single family dwellings across the street on Woodway Road is single family dwellings.

Uh east and south of the parcel is multifamily housing, all the way down to Bounce Street, right?

And all the way up.

Um various types.

I suppose some of it is condominium form of ownership, some of it may be rental.

I I suspect a lot of it is condominium form of ownership because we had to send out 157 notices.

So it is it is the perfect though, uh location for the transition, as I said.

Um this corner um is a gas service station, though.

So it's a little bit, it stands out a little bit.

Um but the result of all this is that the applicant is providing exactly what the RM1 zone is intended to provide, and that is a transition from multifamily housing to single family housing.

Um up on the screen now is the site plan.

So assuming that if this application is approved, all five lots will be consolidated, and the site plan will look as uh what you have in front of you.

Any curb cuts along Hope Street are going to be closed.

All access will be on Woodway Road, uh ingress and egress, two-way traffic is all through um Woodway Road.

There is um 20 uh townhouse style um um units in three separate buildings, nine, five, five, and six.

Um the units will all be um three bedrooms, two and a half baths.

They're all two and a half stories in height.

Um the each one will be separately wired for uh EV chargers.

Um the site meets all the open space requirements.

Um it meets the class B uh parking um bike parking requirement, and that is well as provided.

And included in this site plan approval, the applicant also uh requested by special permit um that the um there be a density bonus of in this case a little over four units.

Um site being 1.375 acres, you could fit uh just short of 16 units on the site.

Um, but the applicant has applied for a special permit pursuant to section five EE8 um to allow the additional units, which will bring it up to a total of 20, and which will uh require that the two BMR units be on site.

Um the site will look something uh as you see here.

This is the um landscape design.

In fact, let's do it this way.

Um there is uh a robust amount of landscaping, uh, both uh along the streets where there are, I think 16 trees that will be planted and large trees at the entrance.

There's a lot of shrubbery and a lot of screening.

There's also going to be a picket fence that's being proposed around, and the units will look like this.

Um these are probably, if not the color, pretty close to the color of what the units will be.

That's the uh five-unit building.

This is the nine-unit building, I believe.

Um, from this air, it looks something like this, except that this is a gas station and not a beautiful lawn.

Um there are 45 parking spaces on the site, 44 are required.

There is um handicap parking, that there's EV uh spaces provided.

Um, and so um all in all, I think it's it's a very attractive site, and it fits right in with the other units that are uh also on the block and within the vicinity.

The uh planning board, as I mentioned, recommended approval.

Uh, EPB um and engineering both have no um objections.

They both, of course, have their standard uh conditions that they want satisfied, and um there will be no issue with satisfying any of those.

Uh we submitted a traffic report uh by Buber's um traffic, and uh that report uh was reviewed by the city's uh TTP, and um they've all concluded that there is no adverse impact um upon traffic.

Um the traffic um fire and safety, um, particularly the fire department has looked taken a look at the site.

Let me just go to that.

I think I have something that might be helpful.

Um they were concerned about fire engine and safety access, and so uh we had to provide a uh uh a demonstration to show that they in fact the fire department wanted to see that a hook and ladder can turn around on this site.

I don't know why they would need a hook and ladder with two and a half story buildings.

However, that was the requirement.

So we are able to provide them with that.

Um and they wanted to see that a garbage truck could also fit.

I think of a hook and ladder truck can fit.

I don't think a garbage truck is going to have a problem.

There is a place for trash down in this area as well.

Um the one problem I think with respect to all of the um agencies who commented was um we we have a little bit of an issue with it with the traffic and parking comments, and only one issue.

They they had, I think, six or eight different conditions, um, all of which were um satisfactory, but the one thing that they did want is they wanted the sidewalk improvement to continue um across um the gas station site.

And that's a that's a problem, and it's a problem for a number of reasons.

Number one, we don't own that site, and I don't want to make it sound like we're getting out of doing the work because we are getting out of trying to get out of doing the work, right?

But but the fact of the matter is I don't think it's something that we can do.

If I I show you a picture of this site right now, um, so this is what it looks like, right?

And I think there were already some improvements made recently because this uh relatively recently uh from what I understand became a three-way stop sign at this corner.

Um so it and it looks like the curve is all relatively new, and the sidewalks that that is existing is already um is relatively new.

But there's access into this into this business, and it's a business, it's not a home where you know we can go in and just interrupt things.

Um these guys are trying to run a business, and um I I don't think we have the ability to improve the sidewalks there.

I I would also point out there isn't it part of the city right-of-way.

It may be the city right away.

I don't know.

We'd have to uh exactly um survey exactly where that um um sidewalk is in relation to the city right away and private property, but the fact of the matter is there's two things.

One, we would have to access the private property to do the improvements.

You just can't, we're not gonna be able to just do it in the city right away, right?

You still have to access the property, and you're still going to disrupt somebody's business, right?

It's not as I said, it's not a residence, it's not something where you can, you know, say, hey, look, you know, you can't, you know, we're gonna be working here today, you know, you can't use your driveway.

It's just somebody's business that we're disrupting.

And I think it's a problem um for that condition.

I'm not saying we won't ask, and I'm not saying we won't try, but I don't think we can accept that as a condition of approval, is my point.

Did you discuss this with PTP?

Uh I did.

And well, I I shouldn't say I had a meaningful discussion.

I made a comment, uh, you know, Frank Petis has left.

Um, and I guess he's the guy who who uh was involved initially.

Uh, but I did contact Luke uh Buttonweiser and I said, Luke, this could be a problem because you know, we don't own this property.

And I really wasn't able to get into the details with him as such.

And his response was the same as yours, Chairman Stein.

His response was, well, it's it should be just in the city right-of-way, right?

Uh if if the surveys are correct.

And I'm not disputing that, right?

But that doesn't that doesn't make it easy for us to go ahead and improve the sidewalks.

We we would still need access, these guys would still have to disrupt their business, right?

Um and um I I think it's a conversation we could certainly have with them, but I don't I I just don't think we can accept it as a condition.

And the zoning regulations are pretty clear um in that respect.

When it's a when it's a when there's a third party involved, you you know, you can't be required to improve the driveway on somebody else's property.

You're not being asked to improve their driveway.

No, right, I'm sorry, the the sidewalk.

What section is that?

Uh yeah.

That is section.

I thought I I thought I honestly had it in front of me here, and I apologize because I anticipated that question.

Oh give me a hint.

It's in start with 1612.

Yeah, well, I know it's there.

Um 12 K for B.

Sidewalks requiring third party permit or permission.

Uh, for example, within a state highway right of way.

I think is Hope Street a state highway.

Um, no applicant shall be required to build a sidewalk.

We're doing so will require that a permit or permission must be obtained from a third party owner, agency, or department over which neither the zoning board nor the applicant has any control.

What section?

I'm sorry, what section are you in?

Yeah, this is section 12 K 4 and uh B.

I would give you the page, but I'm told that I got it.

I got it.

Yeah.

Okay.

So that then there would be it looks like the next paragraph goes on to say there would be a fee in loo.

Um okay.

Well, I think you guys need to discuss that with uh TTP then.

Um when this was drafted, um if you look at the next section and C fee and loop payments, see one applicant shall make the fee and loop payment for sidewalks one C prior to building permit if the applicant is not required to build this sidewalk pursuant to 12k4B.

So um there is a fee and loo payment required if you are exempt under P.

Well, we could certainly you know talk to the um we can certainly talk to the um traffic and parking department and work something out.

Look, I'm not saying that we we we're not going to improve that sidewalk either.

All I'm saying is it might not be possible, and it would be difficult to make it a condition.

If as a result of that we have to work out a fee and low with them, then that's what we'll have to do.

But I just don't want to be put in a position where we have to do a sidewalk, and we can't.

Yeah, that would be unfair.

Sure, no, I understand.

Just uh a small uh clarification, you'd be working out the fee and lieu with uh land use staff and the board design board.

That's that's fair.

Okay.

All right.

Otherwise, I think that's some yeah, no, I think that sums up this application pretty good.

There's not there's not a lot to discuss, it's pretty straightforward.

And whatever questions you have, I'll be happy to answer.

And as I said, Len DeAndre is here and Matt and um the whole crew.

Okay, good.

Uh thank you.

Um Bill, you want to uh lead off?

Sure, I got uh some questions regarding landscaping.

Do you want to do that?

Now I want to wait until well, no, let's why don't you start it and then if anyone else has landscape questions, let's get them all in at the same time.

I noticed that around the perimeter of the property, there's a lot of modular stone walls being built and also some stone walls being taken down and new walls built and that could you spend a little time going over that?

And why that why that is necessary?

Yeah, so the the um excuse me.

So the uh um there's a stone wall all along Hope Street, and that's that stone wall is intended to be rebuilt, right?

Um if you looked at the uh the photos from the uh application, you can see that the that that that stone wall has been around uh quite a long time, and it will be re rebuilt and it will be when the uh when the sidewalks are done, that will also be done.

The trees will be planted.

I think they'll be um you know uh really a beautiful um it'll be a beautiful arrangement when it's done.

Um other walls, I I think there's picket fences.

Um Lena, you have it or have other stone walls.

Isn't there something a wall south on the south southern property?

You build a new modular wall.

Oh yeah.

So you're you're talking about here, yeah.

It's intent that's intended, yeah.

It's a sloping property, and that's intended to level the property.

Where is that?

Joe.

I think you're talking about this area here, right, Len?

Yes.

Mr.

Morris, right here, right?

Yeah.

So there's a wall that's going to be put here that's going to allow this area to be level, right?

So they're gonna level out the entire parcel with that.

I I don't think it's a significant um read of property um amount of of uh rise that has to be done.

I think from one end to the other, it's only three to four feet.

Oh so what will that look like to the abutting property owner then?

I'm just curious.

To to this abundant property owner?

Yeah, on the south, yeah.

Well, I I I I think I think with all of the uh screening and the uh vegetation that's gonna go there, I think it's gonna look pretty good.

I don't fence on the east side.

And and as I understand for Mr.

DeAndrea, there will be a vi a vinyl fence on the east side of that wall.

Okay, well, there is one now, actually.

There it is.

Wait a sec.

This the walls on the south side of the property, right?

East and south.

So yes, so the the wall will come this way, right?

And then on this side.

Does that make sense to you?

And there's there's already a vinyl fence here on the east side, not on the south side though.

So what will the wall look like on the south side?

Do you have a picture of it?

That's okay.

Mr.

DeAndre's looking to see if he has a detail of that right now.

But I don't have it on the property.

Detail is on it.

Okay, so there's a according to Mr.

Daly, there's a stone masonry detail on page four or four of these of the uh plans that were provided.

And a modular block wall and a modular block wall as well.

All right, well, I'll come back up.

I'll I should I could I'll go I'm gonna pull it out and take a look at that.

Well, why um I can do that while you're asking some other questions?

It has to do with the the uh street trees.

Uh I guess on Woodway Road.

Yes.

It appears that two of them appear to be like on on further in on your property and where the driveway uh is located.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

And and those two trees are different from the other 14 trees.

Is that also correct?

That's also correct, yes.

Okay, so and why is that that I'm gonna have to ask Mr.

Pop.

Uh he's the lens.

Yeah.

So that pop landscape architect environmental installations that prepared the landscape plan.

I just uh made those uh different because that's the entrance to it.

So just to be uh kind of a focal point.

So when you're driving down the street, yeah, is that all the same?

Is that that's just again mainly just to be the focal point?

But yeah, if you want to be the same, we can make them all the same, but again.

Are those two much larger when they're fully grown than the rest of them?

Um yeah, it's a birch street goes taller, definitely grows taller.

The other trees, there's some utility lines overhead.

So they're not tall grown, but the these trees are kind of pushed back further.

Okay, and and and those two trees in a driveway, are they with uh in the 10 foot wide uh strip so that they can be considered street trees?

I believe so.

You know, I think we can make we can push them so that they're close enough to the road, but that they're pretty generally the circles are probably maybe 15 feet diameter, so if we take half of that the symbol let me restate the question, they have to be within that 10 foot.

Yeah, that's fine.

So you have to position them so that they are, it's not that they can be, correct?

Um also could you comment on the on the okay?

Um so is that gonna be a change to the landscape plan.

Um they may be within 10 feet of the property line, as is, have to double check.

Um I just wanted to um give a thought on the location of the street trees.

So you recently heard from you know some experts um on trees who are involved with you know street tree planting, you know, throughout the city.

Um and what they've told us that the trees do somewhat better when they're kind of a little bit more inland within private property than they would be, you know, just you know, you know, close to the sidewalk, so you without going too far in so as not to have any benefit at all.

Uh there might be some benefit for having them inward rather than you know ultimately.

I I understand that benefit, but uh I I believe the regulation states that have to be within that uh 10-foot wide uh streetscape property to be treated trees.

I mean that's um I'm getting like David.

Oh yeah, no, I was gonna I was just thinking that Bill.

Um is the the rule that you're referring to, the regulation you're referring to is that the center of the tree has to be within the 10 feet.

Is that it?

Correct.

I believe that's correct, yes.

Okay.

Um so I think the simple answer is is that Mr.

Pop has to make a determination and take a look at this and determine whether or not it's within 10 feet, and if it's not, we'll we'll resubmit another uh landscape plan that moves them slightly into the 10 foot bar.

Again, if the tree is gonna grow much better, you know, 12 feet in the 10 feet, you know.

I think that reasonable, you know, I think that they should count as street trees being 12 feet back.

But anyway, that's just but we'll make sure that they fit within that 10 feet.

Well, I I would probably agree with you if you specifically put it 12 feet back because it'll grow better as opposed to a 12 feet back because it would look better.

Um so there is the provision for the board to make it you know modify uh you know the requirement if that is you know the optimal solution.

So um, you know, I'd leave that too up to the board to see if they need if we do supervision.

If that's possible, I'm I'm on board that especially since it would uh grow better.

I suppose to look back.

Matt, Matt, why don't you get us get back to us with a distance?

So Payne.

Yeah, so we know what we're talking about.

I'll check for I'll I'll check right now and I can get back to you.

Um go anywhere, Matt.

I'll throw you.

Okay, all right.

And then um now uh there's a large number of uh large arborbaries that have to be removed from the site, correct?

Mike oh and uh is there any adverse environmental effect from that happening?

Um none that I see.

No, the the the site's not extremely uh the slopes kind of gently sloping.

So if it was a wooded hillside, you know, might be a concern.

Um provides, you know, I'm not sure if they're totally native to the area, which type they are.

Um but again, we are proposing a number of trees to replace them.

We do have a lot of screening along the uh southern uh property line and the uh eastern property line.

Actually, actually, and along the streetscape too, along I hope street.

All right, so but the the existing arbor varies are they along the perimeter of the property or just spread throughout the property?

Um I think they're uh out the I think then the center they are deciduous, um, but I'll have to check on that.

There's been some time.

Okay.

Okay, let us know.

Dave, uh I think that's good for me for right now.

Okay.

Um Roseanne, anything on landscaping?

Yep.

Um so uh we're removing 45 trees.

Um, and then we know how many new ones we're removing.

So do all those big trees on the property have to go?

There's there's nothing that's gonna be left, right?

You're just wiping out everything.

Um yes, a lot of those are in the center of the site.

Um you can kind of see the symbol, you know, in the driveway.

Most of those are within the you know, that driveway area or within the building areas, but yeah, it's unfortunate on this one.

Yeah, I hate taking down healthy full-grown trees.

Yeah.

Um then I have to say, I think the um landscape plan is is pretty great.

But I have a question about the picket fence.

Why a low three and a half foot picket fence and not the standard kind of eight foot fence?

Six foot.

I mean so the the there's a the fence, I think there's around a playground area.

Um, but you know, along the I don't have that detail on my sheet.

You you have um in one of the pictures that we looked at a few minutes ago with uh Joe.

Um you showed um one of the picket, yeah.

Yeah.

So so that picket um that that pickets along the gas station.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

And you don't want to block the gas station a little bit.

Well, well, I mean, uh that's what I don't understand.

Now that you mention it, yeah.

I if I was gonna buy one of these or rent or even rent one of these, I would sure want something that blocked that.

Where now where else is the picket fence beside the gas station?

It's down behind on the uh opposite corner of the uh gas station, right?

Yeah, down there.

Here, yeah.

That's on top of another wall, I believe, there.

So that we're limited as to height, right?

I think this picket fence along the gas station can be any picket fence along that gas station can be a little bit larger because what do you think?

How about to be a vinyl fence?

What about a six-foot vinyl fence?

That's cool.

So I I believe, yeah, I believe since this, well, I don't think we can go as high as eight feet.

I think we could only go as high as six feet, and I believe the plan um has since changed since this was submitted.

And I think the intention is that this fence, which is right here, will be a six-foot vinyl fence, according to the engineer.

That's correct.

Okay, so the six-foot vinyl on the around the gas station.

Yes.

Right on the two sides.

That's correct.

I'm sorry about the dog noise.

Um, and then what about back over to that play area?

So that fence is on top of the stone wall.

And so does that moving on, I'm sorry.

Which play area?

Here's a couple of them.

It's not on the stone wall.

Okay, yeah.

It's around yeah, around the play area, which is right here.

I don't know if you could see where my cursor is, but this is the play area.

The fence surrounds the play area.

Right.

Yeah, and um and isn't there a new picket fence there?

Around this play area, yes.

Okay, and then there are the trees and then the wall.

Right.

Okay, all right, never mind.

I take that part of the question back.

Yeah, anything I think you can do to improve that fence around the gas station.

Um I think would be smart.

Does board members or do people agree that a six-foot vinyl fence would be preferable around the gas station?

Absolutely.

What I I that doesn't make that I don't find either way.

Three feet, six feet, whatever.

It just can't be more than six feet.

Right.

Yeah, I I would much rather see the the vinyl as opposed to the picket.

I mean, I would love to see it congruent with the the stone wall on the other side, but it you know, it's cross-prohibited, I'm sure.

Can I ask why it can't be taller than six feet?

I just wondered.

I thought kind of a standard fence was eight feet.

So the zoning regulation state that you could have, excuse me.

I I just became a grandfather again.

I'm sorry about that.

Um the um congratulation.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

It's uh my fourth grandson in holy macro.

Yeah.

Um I forgot the question now.

I'm sorry.

Six foot five.

Yeah, so the zoning regulation state that that you could only have an eight-foot fence in a rear yard on a side yard or a front yard, a fence cannot be more than six feet.

Yeah.

So the six you'll revise the plans to show a six-foot vinyl fence.

Yes.

Which plan will be revised.

I I I think that probably the most appropriate plan would be the landscape plan to show that, right?

Um, yes, yep.

only have an eight foot fence in a rear yard on a side yard or a front yard a fence cannot be more than six feet yeah so the six you'll revise the plans to show a six foot vinyl fence yes which plan will be revised i i i think that probably the most appropriate plan would be the landscape plan to show that right um yes yep okay so that'll and you'll call that out so we can see it yes well the detail yep mr stein can may I just ask why couldn't we uh use arborvites in there instead of the the fence itself as a screening or maybe both yep um we do have uh on the uh drive side coming in uh just to the east of the uh gas station we do have arbor body there ahead right enough um and then you know between the bike right on the question i wondered why we couldn't soften it up by putting aberbidis on that side no no we could do that too I think that's a good idea yep the only thing was I was thinking like to get access around like the bike rack area if you had a lawnmower or somebody want to go around that's kind of why I didn't have anything between the bike rack and the gas station area right in that area they can use their string trimmer there yep so we could wrap that around anyway what about the on the south side of the gas station yeah that's a six foot high vinyl fence right is there and there looks like there's some shrubbery there what is that yeah there's some existing trees there's no three or four three existing uh trees and then um let me just zoom in no and then that there's some evergreen trees which are American holly there's four of them and then in the corner we have a kind of a large growing deciduous shrub of iburnum right on the the the north uh west corner so the darker where are you talking about wrapping the arborvite um I think between the bike rack yeah and the gas station there's a strip of lawn I think we just continue it there and then along the driveway I have them already board are people okay with that I am it's fine sorry I forgot I turned off my mic yeah no it makes sense to me okay so if you make that change please um okay uh Matt Okay's Ann you have the floor on for landscaping yeah that was uh that was it okay Jerry you got anything else on landscaping I think you covered it thank you okay just a couple of landscaping questions um the street trees um I can't tell what size they are are they small medium or large trees believe they're small it's it's a it's a I would say small to medium there's a utility lines overhead okay so unfortunately um and our as you know the um epb is um particular about the plants being native uh which I think is a good idea as well I see some are marked native if there are plants marked that are not native can you replace them with native plants um yeah we we could it could some areas it gets a little bit tough but we could um let me just see what the most of them are native um is it one of the hollies is it the hydrangea sorry so can you yep okay I guess first can you mark the native plants sure and then the ones that are not the majority the majority of the trees are are native except for like um um like the red maples are native the the birch is native the honey look is is native the swamp white oak is native the red bud's native the hall torrents native the magnolia uh which we're using is not uh native um and we're using uh two of those um and then the American holly is native the the next magnolia uh the the evergreen one is native um and then some of the evergreen trees like the spruce uh those aren't native but mainly all of the deciduous uh trees are native except for uh two

Um, and then the American Holly is native, uh the next magnolia, uh the evergreen one is native.

Um and then some of the evergreen trees like the spruce, uh those aren't native, but mainly all of the deciduous uh trees are native except for uh two.

Okay, can you swap those out for native plants then?

Um sure.

Yep.

So David, our regulations say that everything has to be native.

Um it's it's a requirement that uh EPB has been asking us for.

No, I I know, I just yeah, I don't I think the tree manual says it.

Um, but I don't have it in front of me.

Okay, that's all right.

The tree manual, the tree manual, the the emphasis is on native trees, but there's also some uh non-invasive uh non-native trees in there that are particularly like salt resistant or things like that.

Okay, so then if you if any of your non-natives, Matt are on that list, then it sounds like we've we've already given the okay for them.

Um I'm checking now, and I don't think that Magnolia is on that list.

So some of the plants on the on the list um I've never used.

I don't or I've never seen anybody else use.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

But we could make a change then.

Okay, thank you.

Um I think that's all I have on landscaping.

So um Bill, why don't you go back and start with your next category?

I really don't have any other questions, David.

This is a pretty standard straightforward application, right?

Okay.

So I don't have anything else right now, anyway.

Plus after the public hearing, I might come up with something right now.

I don't have any uh other questions.

Okay, Roseanne.

Um why don't you continue?

Joe, can you just quickly talk about the materials?

Sure.

Um uh hardy plant hardy board will be the um um siding.

Um and um uh you know asphalt roofs.

Um I I can I can promise you there will be no vinyl after that.

Is that covering that's that's uh that should cover it.

Okay now yep, I I don't have anything else, David, either.

Uh on my questions had uh we're we're really concerning landscape.

Okay.

Uh Jerry Mr.

Chairman, I I really like to hear uh the public, and I'm sure there'll be questions after that.

I'd like to hear what they have to say to weigh in.

Okay.

Um I have a couple of questions before we get there.

Um the sidewalks that are being provided.

Umita or Ralph, are these the um 10 foot wide with six-foot sidewalk and four-foot amenity strip?

Is that do I read that correctly as what's required?

That is the requirement.

Okay.

Um Joe, would you make sure the plans that that gets onto the plans, please?

Sure.

Um just revise them to show that 10 foot sidewalk.

I believe that is the plan, and I'll make sure it's um properly documented.

Yeah, I I couldn't tell looking at it.

Okay.

Um, thank you.

I read it someplace.

Um let's see.

Uh you said there'd be two BMRs.

That's correct.

What's how do you get to two?

Can you just explain the the math?

Yeah, 20 units, 10%.

No, that's not the math.

Um David, can I chime in?

Yeah, please, Vanita.

So, you know, the BMR requirement is calculated on the base density, which is 15 points some units.

So 15.3.7.

Okay.

So the requirement would be 1.57.

Um obviously you can't provide fractional units, so rounding up makes sense.

So providing two units um would be would is what makes sense.

Um you could do one unit and fraction, you know, and pay a fee in lieu of the fractional, but I think it's generally, you know, if you're providing one, you know, and the fraction being you know above 0.5, I think it makes sense for the two units to be full, you know, two full BMR units.

Okay.

Since we're on math questions, can you explain to me how under five EE8?

You got 4.24 um bonus units.

David, um I was asking Joe, but Vinita, if you want to chime in, that's good too.

Well, on lots of 30,000 square feet of more, you can ask for up to 15 bonus units on uh pursue it to five EE8.

Um we have four here because that's what works on the site.

So you're you're entitled to 15, roughly 15 and three quarters, and you're adding another four and a quarter.

So that's roughly a bonus of 27.

That seems a little high.

Um tell me, tell me why it isn't.

Well, under the regulations, you could ask for substantially more than that, right?

Why it's not high here is it I think what it comes down to is although you're entitled to ask for more, you have to figure out what works on each site, right?

What provides the open space, what what can you provide the parking with?

You know, how how do you work this so that the the um the project works?

Um and within the context of that, that's how we came up with 20 and not 25 or 30 or whatever it may be.

And um that that's yeah, you're allowed up to 15 additional units per acre.

Yeah, so Ralph and Vanita, is there no that we have no guidelines as to what's an appropriate bonus number of units?

Um, I think if it you know is within the maximum that stated, um you know it is it is eligible for that.

Um it, you know, there is the maximum permitted premium unit density stated.

So you know it it follows within that they're not utilizing the maximum that they could um so I what is that I don't see a reason why so he could ask if they asked for 15, which would be roughly a hundred percent bonus, that would be fine as long as they could fit them on.

They have to make them fit with um setback parking, yeah.

Um you know, there are some you know bonuses which have a gap on maximum, but here this is um I think what happens here is the site shape of the site, the size of the site, the setbacks, the result regulations determine how much of that um that density bonus you can take advantage of, right?

In this particular case, this particular site, theoretically, right?

We could have built a lot more units, but it just doesn't work.

It doesn't work at the end of the day.

This is the uh it seemed to be the plan that worked the best.

And we have two two uh according to five EE8, there was going to be two BMR units, and they will be on site.

They have to be on it's um so there's a maximum.

There's a so premium floor area or premium units cannot exceed 33 percent of the base floor area density.

That's given in our definitions or bonus units.

Okay, and since this is just at 27%, then it falls under that.

Is this in the is this at the board's discretion?

Um I've not seen in the past that you know the board having reduced it beyond what was asked.

If this if the site then makes sense, I don't see why we would want fewer units.

Um, because you know the we need the this kind of housing, you know, it leads to more um BMR, you know, they they're providing um more than the required BMR uh units.

So I think they're they have made themselves eligible for the uh bonus that they're requesting.

I mean, the the idea is that um you cannot uh sort of stack bonus on bonus on bonus.

So you get the BMR bonus, you get the installer preservation bonus, you get another bonus, so that's where the 33 percent uh comes in.

Okay, okay.

Um we need an affordability plan, correct?

We do have one.

Yes.

Did I not see it in the packet?

Um did any board member get an affordability plan?

I didn't notice it if we got it.

I didn't see it.

The draft affordability plan was filed.

Okay, Vanita, would you please send it out?

Sure.

Um you showed okay.

The you have the required number of class B parking spaces, correct?

We we have the required part, yeah.

We meet or exceed the parking requirements, yes.

Okay.

Um as I read it, uh parking management plan and transportation demand management plans are required.

Um Ralph and Vanita, is that correct?

Um special permits um may trigger.

Let me see if it's required or uh discretionary.

I know there's a waiver that can be requested when there's small projects.

Yes, and I think that's but I didn't see a request for a waiver here.

Was there one?

No, there wasn't a request for a waiver.

Okay.

Um I I wouldn't see a need for those if a waiver was requested.

Um I don't know how else anyone else on the board would feel.

But I concur.

Yeah.

Sorry.

I concur.

Yeah, yeah.

I agree.

Joe, you want to provide the plans or request a waiver?

I think we would request a waiver.

Okay.

Almost done.

Uh oh, Vanita, the renderings that we got.

Um will you please uh mark them?

I guess as received so that they can go into the uh record.

Yes.

Yeah, they stamp those.

Yep.

And last but not least, um, Joe, you said in the narrative that uh none of the existing homes on the property are market rate affordable.

Can you how did you come up with that conclusion?

Um I'm trying to remember now.

I first of all, I don't think they are um I don't believe any of the units uh I mean they're all they're all scheduled for demolition.

There's no value to any of those units whatsoever.

Um I don't think well that's even more reason that their market rate affordable then.

Well and there's there's no tenants there's no ability to live in them.

I don't know that they're market rate affordable.

I don't remember um I'd have to go back and look at the exact reason why we came up with that conclusion but yeah we need you need to look at the regs and then we would need I think your how you came up with that conclusion.

Sure.

An explanation um and if it does fall under the regs um at least then I think we're going to need some something showing that um I guess that the the rents would be above um uh affordable rents okay because if they are market rate affordable then there would I think there would need to be at least one additional BMR.

Okay.

Anyone else any uh other questions from the board no not this time no okay um so if there's anyone from the public who wishes to speak on this application either for or against it um please raise your hand and um when you're called on uh first unmute and then give us your um your name and your address please we have uh miss who um can you unmute yourself um okay on the why don't we go on to the next one Sue if you oh wait hi it's Sue hello can you can you hear me oh sorry I'll get the hang of this yeah I'm sorry this is Sue Halpern and I live in the South End and I just have a couple of questions you know I'm giving us can can you give us a little better address than South End.

I'm sorry Elm Cross Road Elm Cross Road okay all right I'm on the historic neighborhood preservation uh program and I just have a question about the house at 1325 Hope Street was built in 1904.

So it's 120 just about 120 25 years old maybe so um I'm wondering if HP was involved at all or consulted at all and I understand the demolition delay notice came out in June June 28th 2024 it was sent to the state historic preservation office and a few other people but I was wondering if you did you not get a response from anybody as far as trying to save that house or um what was the deal with that that historic preservation as far as that house goes but thank you that's my question.

Okay and just for the public um attorney capalbo is making a list of all of the questions and then when we're done with all the public's questions he will answer uh them all at once okay thank you very much sure um next we have Brendan Malloy hi everyone um Brendan Mulloy I'm a uh homeowner at 19 Woodway Road which is the the condominium association um that borders the the proposed um project um my sort of main concern that I wanted to voice at the meeting tonight had to do with the the landscaping proposal um there's a number of very tall trees that we have that border our property and the proposed um projects property um and it looks like the plans um propose removal of um many of those trees um and if we pull up the um the landscaping diagram that you guys got up a few moments ago um specifically it looks like behind proposed building four um there's no plans to to replant um or add um additional trees in the locations where the ones are are being torn down um and my um sort of media can

And if we pull up the um the landscaping diagram that you guys got up a few moments ago, um specifically it looks like behind proposed building four.

Um there's no plans to to replant um or add um additional trees in the locations where the ones are are being torn down.

Um and my um sort of immediate concern with it is that our properties at 19 Woodway are um set a little bit below um, you know, where where the building, I think three, four, and five are being built, and without any type of um freeze there um on the property line.

You know, I I think it's a privacy issue.

The the the new building going up is going to be looking directly down into our units.

Um so that's that's my uh my commentary.

Okay.

So you're talking about behind the units where the patios are of those new units, right?

Correct.

Buildings three, four, and five, I think in the diagram.

Um yeah, they're showing some shrubs.

I don't see any fence there, although there may be.

Um there's an ex there's an existing fence.

Um, I don't know if there's a plan to replace it, but um okay.

Um that's a good a good question.

Um this needs is some taller uh plantings there.

Um I would, you know what?

Um maybe the applicant can get in touch with you.

Can you give Mr.

Capalvo's office a call?

Umorrow and discuss this further with him.

Uh sure.

Okay.

We I still want to hear the answer, but I think it's worth you guys having a conversation.

Yeah, that the other thing I would add is there are two tall trees, I think on our property, at least they're on our side of the fence.

Um be nervous on the other side of the fence, given how large the trees are and how close they are together with you know, move one and then with obviously I'm having trouble hearing you.

I don't know if that's my internet or yours.

Uh Joe, are you getting all that?

You muted the no, it was it the rest of us couldn't hear it either.

Okay.

Oh no, does that work?

I got everything up for that last minute there.

Okay.

Go ahead and could you repeat that, please?

Um just the last minute or so.

Yeah, the the one other concern I had with the tree removal is that we have a couple of tall trees on our side of the fence as well that are very close to the ones that I think are being removed on your side of the fence.

Um, and in the removal, I'd imagine, you know, it's it's probably going to be very difficult to take those trees down without interrupting the roots um and whatnot um of our trees.

So that would be the the other concern I would have with the plan to remove them.

Okay, I'd ask um when we get to the point of answering these questions if Matt Pop could uh respond on that one, please.

He's the land.

Thanks everyone for your time.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Um next we have Mr.

Zach.

Hello, thank you so much.

I represent the Zach family.

We live at 19 Woodway Road, unit number eight.

And I have give us your name, please.

Gregory Zach.

And Flavia Zach, we live at 19 Woodway Road, unit eight.

So we are the West Fasting units.

Got it.

You face the back of the new building.

That's correct.

Yes.

We're the funds.

So the first question I have is you made mention to you seem very concerned about disrupting the business of the gas station that lives that's on the corner.

But what about the countless tenants and occupants that work from home at Woodway Road?

I work from home.

45% of my business is conducted in meetings, and I work from the loft that is westward facing.

So what's to be said about the interruption that's going to cause me at my business that I run?

And I don't have any other location to run my business from than besides my home.

What about that?

And I know I'm not the only one who works from home at Woodway Road.

Okay.

What's um we'll answer all your questions when we've gotten all of the public's questions.

Okay, I have four more questions.

That was just the first one.

Okay.

My second question is you're proposing to do a huge construction at a three-way intersection with two of the main roads running to the merit.

How do you propose handling the incredible traffic disruption that this is going to cause?

This is going to be a two-year undertaking, and most of the people who are driving this way are going to the merit.

This is commuter traffic.

We have, you know, we have standstills every day.

This is three-way intersection.

How are you going to build this without completely disrupting traffic flow?

Okay.

What should I do?

Not to mention, you know, all the folks that have you know driveways.

Uh another thing that the other gentleman mentioned is, you know, because we're in Westward facing, I did notice on some of your plans that there are balconies.

What about privacy for the folks at 19 Woodway Road?

Um, they're gonna be looking right into our units, it looks like so you know, like when we're sitting out back, we're gonna have people staring at us.

Just so I understand Woodway.

How do you there can only be one house next door?

Is that correct?

Oh no, you're in Woodway Common.

That the issue.

We're at Woodway Common, the the 30 unit.

Yeah.

Gotcha.

Gotcha, gotcha.

Okay, makes sense.

We're the westwood facing units, so we'll probably be the most impacted.

And I did notice on your plans that a lot of these units are going to have balconies.

And you know, a lot of folks like to sit outside.

We have you know lovely property here with a lot of trees.

Um, but it looks like those balconies are going to be looking directly at us as we sit outside.

And the trees are gonna be gone, right?

Which is okay um uh leading to the next question.

Um, we have a lot of wonderful trees lining that fence.

We also have two trees that have joint roots, meaning we own half of them.

So we'd love to know what the plan is for them, especially since we have a lot of wildlife here.

We have a woodpecker family.

What we have a blue jay family, we have a lot of chipmunks, and they all live in this one particular tree that is co-owned.

So we're curious about the outcome for these trees that are belong to both of us.

And then lastly, um, I'm extremely concerned because a lot of the people who live at 19 Woodway Road are elderly.

Most of them are on fixed incomes.

A lot of these folks are renting.

So if you come in and I've been looking at the rent projections for this, these are definitely above market rate units.

What is that gonna do to the cost of living to the seniors who are living here?

They're gonna be kicked out of their homes.

Some of them have been living here 20 plus years.

What are they gonna do if the property rights skyrocket?

This is gonna impact the cost of living in our area for folks that can't really afford to have that increase happen.

How much is lower the value of the condos here?

Yeah, and we're also concerned about the lowering of our property value as well, because you know, if we wanted to sell before it was gonna be looking, you know, you call it trees.

Now they're gonna be looking at folks, you know, with balconies.

We're very concerned about the resale value of our units.

Sure.

Okay.

Anything else?

I know I think I've I think I've done a number for now.

Sorry, folks.

Mom, you can you can ask on your own thing.

How do I get into it?

Yeah, mom, do your own thing.

I apologize, gentlemen.

Let me mute myself.

I'll help her.

She can come back and ask her own questions.

We're happy to hear from her.

Um next we have Miss Barbara Rosenberg.

That's you.

Go ahead.

All right, here we are.

Uh are you going to since these are going to be above Mark?

I could tell you, could you introduce yourself and are they going to all be rentals?

Um, Ms.

Rosen.

Are they going to all be rentals?

Hello.

You need to say your name where you live.

Yes.

My name is Lee Sulcer.

And I am the mother of Mrs.

Zack.

Okay.

Rosenberg.

Oh, I'm sorry, Barbara Rosenberg.

I'm I'm with Barbara Rosenberg.

Both of us live here.

So it's for Barbara.

I'm speaking for Barbara.

Okay.

But you're you gave us your name.

Okay.

Good.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

So the question is, it are they going to all be above market value?

Above market value.

And what would the rental prices start at?

Okay.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Will there be any HUD funding?

If he's getting any public funding for any of this, he's going to be obligated to put in low income units.

Joe, you got all those?

Did Joe get those?

Did Joe get those?

I think so.

Will there be any HUD funding?

What will the rental prices start at?

Are there any of these?

They're all going to be above market value.

That was a statement.

Therefore, what's the thing?

So if they're all above market value, then he's not getting any federal funding.

He's getting all private funding.

Okay, well, attorney Capel Bowl.

That would be the answer to that question.

Yeah, he will respond when we now you're also talking about how many poor unit.

I'm sorry.

Could you turn off the hearing?

We're getting we're hearing feedback on it.

There's an echo.

There's an echo.

So would these be two bedroom, three bedroom units?

Okay.

So if you're talking keep going.

Um I think we lost her.

I think you're right.

Yeah.

Okay.

She can call back if she has more questions.

Who's next?

Uh we have the phone number ending in 0702.

Uh, I just need to allow the mic here.

Okay.

Now you should be able to unmute.

Zero phone number 0702.

Hi, my name is Dane Carver.

I am from 19 Woodway Road unit number seven.

You're also in Woodway Commons.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Okay.

So one of the concerns that I have is uh one, I have young children, uh, as many people here in the commons do.

I believe there's about seven or eight families that have young children under the age of five.

Um the main concerns is that during the construction, the demolition and construction, um the rise of concrete dust, which could potentially cause silicosis, an irreversible lung uh damaging uh you know uh I wouldn't say disease, but uh condition, uh is something I'm concerned about.

So if we breathe in that concrete dust during that demo or during that during the construction process, that could cause irreparable damage to my my uh children and or anyone else in this in the wave that that dust.

So I requested earlier when they first initially uh had let us know that as Woodway Commons that they were going to start you know construction, would they put up debris netting?

And that request was denied.

Um so I'm just kind of concerned about what safety parameters are they gonna put in place so we don't have to deal with that.

Okay.

Any other questions or concerns?

Uh I guess concerns I would raise would be my wife Sally also works from home uh during that time.

Um so she obviously takes meetings just like everybody else has mentioned before or people who have been on mention before.

Um the disruption to her daily um routine for work, um where she has to work from home because we have children that go to school in the area and versus having to go all the way down to the city.

Um what kind of you know uh would there be something where she would have an uh temporary office where she could go that would be behaved for by the construction company where she could actually conduct her business day to day so that way she can not be interrupted in her daily business.

And I think that would that those two main concerns are the ones I have.

Okay, thank you.

Um David, I don't see any other hand raised.

Um I still have uh the ZAC family um account with the hot hand raised.

Should we go back to that?

Sure.

We lost one of them.

I'm not sure which one, but we lost one of them.

I think Barbara Rosenberg.

Hi, thank you so much.

Yeah, I'll follow my mom asks her question in a in a timely and helpful manner.

Um so thank you so much, Dane, for raising that point.

That's really vital.

Um, another thing we were concerned about as well are the demolitions, especially um the the one house.

We we are concerned about potential asbestos and also just about the air quality as well.

Um we are deeply concerned about the potential long-term effects of exactly the dust and debris over the course of of two years of this project.

And we don't know if there's asbestos or any carcinogens involved.

Probably is because it's very old.

Okay, well, the attorney Capelbo will respond and explain the demolition process and um hopefully uh that would make it clearer.

Okay, and then mom, do you want to finish the question that you had?

Well, I think part of my question is that that it's not gonna, it's going to be a detriment to most of the people at 19 Woodway Road.

It is not going to be something that's going to be to our advantage to have you building this what appears to be extremely large area of condominiums.

I don't really I'm I'm just looking at the space and uh physically, I can't possibly see how you're doing that unless you're building them up.

Because you certainly can't build them too wide.

There isn't that much property.

So I'm trying to figure out how you would and how you're actually fit this is.

I'd encourage you to take a look at um our website um where the uh all the materials are, the application materials, so you can see the plans.

Um this is for anyone in the public who wants to know more about what's being built.

Um the plans are are posted by the staff and available for anyone who wants to see them.

Um my other question is.

And just before you get there, the website is uh www.stamford ct slash zoning.

Okay.

Please please continue.

The other the other question's going to be is I mean, just literally, what would you think would the average amount of people will be that will be living in this very confined area?

Units.

Easily, and children.

That's a lot of people in a very small area.

Where are they gonna park?

And how many cars are they gonna have?

And are they gonna sit there and grow?

I mean, this is not to me, it's not a positive thing for us at 19 Woodway Road.

To me, it's it's it's just not.

So my question to you is this already been passed by zoning?

No.

Are you guys ready to do that?

This is the public hearing that we hold, and following the public hearing, not tonight, but following the public hearing, we will take a vote on this uh application.

Have any of you actually seen the physical area?

This is not a time to question the board.

Um do you have any other questions for the applicant?

No, no, I think I think that's all.

Um yes, so Barbara, do you have a question?

This is Barbara, tell them your unit number and your address.

Yes, I'm unit number 10.

And the trees that uh who are we speaking to?

This is Barbara Rosenberg.

She's in would you like to tell them how old you are and where you live?

What unit number?

19 Woodway Road, Unit 10.

And we have beautiful trees that are over our um property.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um we have birds living in them.

Uh the squirrels, it's absolutely delightful.

It's a lot of wildlife.

And I would grant guess that those trees are at least 50 years old.

Or older, yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

We need to move on.

If there aren't, did you have a question you wanted to ask?

You have a question, Barbara?

Are they gonna remove those trees?

Um, when will you um look at that house to make sure that it doesn't have asbestos?

I'm positive that it does because of its age.

I think asbestos was outlawed in the 70s.

Okay, we will we will make sure that the applicant's attorney responds to that question.

I promise.

Is there going to be an opportunity for us?

I'm having some trouble keeping track of who's speaking.

Who is this now?

This is Zach, the Zach household.

Uh at Unit 8, 19 Road.

Will there be more opportunities to to talk with the with the board?

I don't I don't know what the uh process is.

I anticipate that this will be continued tonight, and therefore uh there will be a public hearing that people can speak at at our next meeting on October 20th at 6:30.

So there's no chance to actually do anything in person to have a group of people there to talk in person.

It's going to all be on Zoom.

It is all on Zoom, yes, or on Teams now.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you for your patience and time.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Um David, I don't see any other hand raised.

Okay.

Um good.

Um attorney Capelbo.

There are a few questions there.

Um go through them, please.

Okay.

Um I um I'm not sure who would be Benita.

I'm sorry, Venita, is everyone on mute?

The public.

Yes.

Okay.

Good.

Thank you.

Okay, I'm I'm not sure where to begin, but let me just start off by saying that whenever you obtain a demolition permit in Stanford, before you can demolish, um, you have to have the uh structure tested for um contaminants, right?

Um if there are any in the structure, they have to be removed.

And the city actually comes in and inspects prior to the time um that you are allowed to demolish.

Once everything is removed, for example, if there is asbestos, the asbestos has to be removed first, that you're then allowed to demolish.

When you demolish the demolition has to be self-contained.

Now they do that any number of ways.

I think the most recent uh way to do it is with water, right?

As they demolish, they throw water on it to prevent any type of um um airborne uh cement or substances to uh travel across the site.

So it's it's very highly regulated, and um and it's part of the permitting process, and I I can assure you there will be no hazardous substances that will be floating through the air to in and around the neighborhood.

Um and they have that they have that pretty well um established.

Um I was talking about um uh direct disruption of the um gas station because there would actually be physical activity occurring on the gas station.

So it's a little bit different than the disruption of the business that they're talking about.

I've never had a conversation with my client nor any client for that matter about relocating somebody during the construction period for their business.

I can have that conversation.

I don't know if it would be positive or not.

I can tell you that the construction is obviously um a temporary activity that's going to occur for a period of time and then it's over with.

Um there there may be some disruption.

I will say that there will be no disrupt disruption as to traffic.

That's been studied by uh traffic engineers as well as the city's traffic department, and they're all satisfied that there won't be any issues with respect to that.

Um as far as the trees go.

I'm sorry, Joe.

There won't be any disruption once the project's completed or during construction.

Well, there'll be less true traffic during construction than there will be after this project is completed, right?

During construction, you're only going to have um the only activities that you'll have there are construction activities.

So you'll have heavier equipment, but you're not going to have the same number of cars going in and out.

Um there was a um um a comment about um the value of the units and whether or not there was going to be any um HUD financing.

Um as far as I know, there is will not be any.

This will all be privately financed.

Um there's not intended to be any type of um HUD funding.

All units, as I said, will be three bedroom units.

I I can't tell you that there's gonna be eight people living in each unit.

All I can tell you is that there'll be three bedroom units, two and a half baths, and the parking requirements are either met or exceeded uh in this application.

Um I don't know what the what the prices will start at.

Um again, things are so crazy in Stanford, Connecticut right now.

I I do not think that they will be um um she said, are they going to be above market value?

I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I can tell you that I don't know a developer out there who wouldn't accept something above market value.

I I have the feeling they will be at whatever market value is at that time.

Um as far as Mr.

Malloy goes, if he wants to give me a call, I'll be happy to talk to him about that.

I think he is right.

He pointed out something where um there might be uh an area where there is no screening.

And um maybe there might be a reason for that.

I don't know.

We'll get Mr.

Pop involved, but we'll certainly address that.

Um for the next meeting, um let the board know that, please.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

And if he Mr.

Malloy, if you want to give me a call, I'll be happy to talk to you about it.

Um, I I I don't know.

Um, these units, you know, you talk about the size of the units and where they're located and how it seems very compact.

I can tell you this, that these units are being built under today's standards, and today's standards are a lot less dense than the standards that existed many years ago in most cases.

So I wouldn't be surprised if the condominiums that surround this are built to a much uh denser standard than what we're proposing here tonight.

Um I don't know that for a fact, but I do know that the standards back back when those were built were much more um liberal than they are today.

Um I guess um, you know, these the there are going to be units if this application is approved, there will be units next door to them.

Um, just like there are units next door on the other side and units to the rear of them.

So um I don't know that there's anything that um that I can say about that other than that this will not have a negative impact uh upon their units.

I can tell you that uh depending upon um usually when something like this is done and it's done well, it will have a positive impact around the neighborhood.

Um the last thing is with respect to historical neighborhood um associations, they they certainly got notice.

You have to provide them notice of the demolition.

Um did they get did my client get a response?

I I I can't answer that question.

I don't know.

I think if he did get a response from them, I would have heard about it.

Uh, but I I can't say that he did or he didn't because I don't know the answer to that.

He never told me that he did.

Um I I think that addresses all of them.

Um if I missed anything, bring it up and I'll try to I'll try to respond now.

Um there's a couple of questions I think that Matt needs to answer.

But you know, the other thing is is with regard to the trees that straddle the line, right?

They there's ways that they deal with that to save these trees.

Um the last thing they want to do is kill trees, and the last thing they want to do is kill trees that aren't on their property.

And right, and they do it with wells, they build uh tree wells.

There's any number of methods that they use to protect these trees, and I'm sure that those methods will all be implemented here as well.

Um if they wanted to meet with Matt and discuss the trees they have concerns over, could that be arranged?

Yeah, I think it should go through me, right?

Yeah, but I I would ask, I would ask Mr.

Beloy to you know to give me a call, and yeah, we'll we'll talk to Matt and we'll see what can be done.

I think he did point out something there that needs to be looked at.

Um, whether or not something can be done, who knows?

But I I do think he has a good point, and we'll take a look at it.

Um yeah, if you would, and then um uh we can discuss it.

If you've got a solution, drop it into the revised plans.

Um and um if not, we can talk about it at our next meeting.

Okay, okay.

Can we get Matt on to respond to any of the uh were there any other questions for Matt?

Uh Matt Pop Eric.

I think the main thing was the rear of the building number four, the plantings in that area.

Um so I just want to go out there, take it a second look, maybe meet with the neighbors.

Um, I think that was the main point.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, hopefully, Joe, you can arrange for Matt and any homeowners who are interested to uh meet there.

Okay.

Um board, did were there any questions that you think didn't get answered?

Sure.

Um Mr.

Chairman, I'd like to ask a couple questions by May.

In the application, I didn't I you know it was brought up with the uh 1925 historic home.

Did HPAC have to weigh in on this?

And I would like to see if attorney Copabo could see if that application was ever resolved, brought to its attention.

Uh you know, that's something that concerns me.

Yeah, well, I I can only tell you that they are required to be provided notice when you file an application.

There's also notice that's published in the newspaper when you file an application.

I I can't say that whether or not they responded.

I'm gonna have to talk to my client about that.

I I would be surprised if they did because I think he would have told me, but I don't know that for a fact.

Okay, yeah.

Yeah, nor need it.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, I guess I could jump in on this.

Yeah, sure.

Please so but the application was filed.

Uh the uh you know, got in touch with the chairman of HPAC and asked if the board would like to take it up at one of their meetings for discussion, but they decided not to based on the these being um private homes.

They are not in any historic district.

So um they chose not to discuss the item.

And we have that in we have that in written, you know, in forms of the case.

Um I can check.

I sometimes have had you know verbal conversation, but I can also you know just get an email.

Okay, I just want to address that.

And Joe, how we would uh if at all, any flooding in that area, drainage, all that kind of stuff, nothing.

No, no, no, no issues at all with respect to any of that.

Okay, just a good site.

All right, great.

Thank you.

That's it.

Okay.

Um anyone else from the board have any other questions on for um the applicant team.

No, Jerry asked my questions.

Okay.

No, it's just time.

Okay.

Um Joe, before I give you the list of what I think the items are with it we need for our next meeting.

Anything else you'd like to say?

No, I don't think so.

I think there were some good questions asked, and we'll we'll provide you the uh the responses and so here's what I have on my list in no particular order.

Um I guess the I the issue that Bill raised about the trees at the entrance being more than 10 feet back.

Um I guess Matt's just gonna let us know where they are, and then we can decide if there's a an issue there.

Um six-foot vinyl fence around the gas station with Arbor Vitae um along one side and going around the corner.

That change will be made to the landscape plan, I guess.

Right.

Um tree list, mark the native plants and exchange, uh, take out the non-native and put in the native, except where the uh tree manual permits the non-natives.

Um just show the 10-foot sidewalk, six feet sidewalk and four foot uh amenity script.

Umiti, you're gonna send the affordability plan out to the board.

Um Joe, you're gonna request a a waiver of the PMP and the TDMP.

Yeah.

From staff.

the non-natives um just show the 10 foot sidewalk six feet sidewalk and four foot uh amenity script um vanity you're gonna send the affordability plan out to the board um joe you're gonna request a a waiver of the pmp and the tdmp yeah from staff um the explanation for why the existing homes um were not market rate affordable and evidence you know whatever evidence you have that they are not uh naturally occurring affordable housing right and then the the question about the screening at the back of buildings uh i'll let you write go ahead no i i have it i'm ready okay in the screening that question about the screening behind buildings um four and five i guess um board is there anything else we'd like from the applicant um yes one of the um questions uh from the neighbors talked about um the bags have patios but they don't have decks off the second floor correct i don't believe so i i didn't see on the plants that there were decks i i thought maybe i was missing something but my recollection is there are no decks no i i didn't see any either and i um i'm not seeing them on the renderings no yeah so there's so the their outdoor space is ground floor yeah i'll verify that but i that's my recollection too yeah no i didn't see it on the plan so yeah it wasn't on the renderings when she was mentioning it i don't know what that was about no and it's not on the plans that were submitted either yeah okay okay and um joe if you would also uh let us know about your discussions with ttp on the sidewalk um their request for the sidewalk yes okay okay um board before we continue this does anyone have anything else no ms chairman oh no no okay then um we're gonna get we are going to continue application two two five one five woodway pines llc uh it'll be continued until our next meeting on october 20th at 6 30 on teams so um capalbo thank you thank you very much congratulations grandpa yeah yes congratulations it's wonderful news yes thank you okay we'll see you next time i'll be here um okay um manita i know we have we've talked about a uh special guest is that still uh in the works yes um uh we do have this daniela areas have it uh ready here they had another meeting that they were at um i do know that miss ingrid gillesby she is also trying to log in it might take her a few minutes um maybe if you can take care of some of the the minutes and other sure items before we move on to this okay give me one session here um okay so we're now finished with the uh public hearing and we're into our regular meeting um the first item we have is approval of the minutes from our meeting on september 29th 2025 um do we uh have any uh comments or revisions there were a couple um banita you want to just tell the board what those are that i guess you or or courtney had found yes Courtney had noticed uh two errors uh in the adjournment section um mr bozak's uh last name was misspelled um and then the other was the adjournment time uh was in the but there's an extra digit um after 10 o'clock so um that those are the only two changes it's not 10 10 oh eight five but it's 1008 okay um does anyone have any uh other changes revisions to the uh minutes okay can we get a motion to approve i i move that we approve the minutes as amended this evening i'll second that september 29th okay um second that mr chairman good uh any further discussion um all in favor say aye aye all right okay minutes are approved um we now have application 225 30 rms hotel one llc 909 washington boulevard site and architectural plans and our requested uses and special permit um this is the uh the lloyd hotel is there any

Um all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Right.

Okay.

Minutes are approved.

Um we now have application 225-30 RMS Hotel 1 LLC 909 Washington Boulevard, site and architectural plans and our requested uses and special permit.

Um this is the uh the Lloyd Hotel.

Is there anyone who's opposed to this application?

No.

No.

Okay, good.

Then um Vanita, can you uh bring up the conditions?

These are the conditions uh that were sent out earlier today.

Um no changes have been made in them.

Thank you.

Yeah, wow.

That's readable.

Okay.

Um so at the beginning, we should just have standard language.

The um did the zoning data chart get its date?

Yes, yeah, we got a dated zoning data chart.

Okay.

But it's the latest D DMP.

Yeah, no, I see you had you had sent that out.

The um zoning data chart, which is there at the bottom of page two and says it was revised to September 24th.

Um had no date on it, so they were just dating it the 24th.

Okay.

Continuing on we have our special permit approvals.

Um to permit an FAR of six and um reducing parking to 0.5 spaces per guest room.

And then again, under a different section to permit minimum parking at 0.5.

I think it should be spaces after that.

Yeah.

Um and to allow tandem ballet, the ballet uh parking that they uh um applied for.

We have our special findings.

Um these are the normal ones.

The only one that's a little different is the last one where we have reviewed the facade improvements and found them consistent with the architectural review design district standards since we are the architectural review design whatever.

Okay.

Now for the uh conditions.

Um conform to the uh plans.

Um next is vehicle parking.

Um that they will uh have 71 ballet spaces and two parking spaces out front.

Um this will uh conform to the requirement of one half space per guest room.

We have a number three is a valet.

Uh much better.

The ballet space um uh requirement condition that we've used um before in um in other buildings that we've approved that have uh ballet spaces um that they will provide full-time staff ballet station um as uh provided in their uh parking management and transportation demand management plan uh available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a uh cell phone number, uh as well as a hardwired phone, so you can call from your room.

Um and um and also the ability to text them.

Um that they can't modify the ballet service without our questions so far on this?

a day seven days a week with a uh cell phone number um as well as a hardwired phone so you can call from your room um and um and also the ability to text them um and uh that they can't modify the valet service without our any questions so far on this no no um parking management plan and uh this this is our standard provision um this one should move into the uh the back end we could really reduce the number of site specific conditions okay um next is uh transportation demand management plan which is again our standard provision uh bicycle parking uh 15 class a and eight class b spaces um as shown on the plans um in compliance with uh um our regs our bicycle parking performance condition which is uh the same one we have in all of our uh all of our um approvals uh street tree there and lo there are six point one six trees that are not not being planted so there's a payment of 15862 to the city's tree fund um yeah no it's just i wanted to make sure that i have um the sfd listed in here as a body to consult when you know looking for alternative sites because they've been really helpful in us doing that but being downtown yeah okay uh yeah downtown that's a good idea yep okay um and it says that uh they can plant an alternative site as long as it's in accordance with the street tree manual uh next signage has to be approved by uh staff and then we have our departmental comments uh that the applicant will comply with um ttp epb engineering and wpca and um that's the end of our site specific um condition any questions or uh discussion folks think this is a good project i do mr chairman yes right okay good um if there's no further uh discussion on the conditions can we get a motion to approve uh application two two five three oh with uh these conditions i move do we approve application number two two five three zero with the conditions as uh discussed and amended this evening is there a second okay any further discussion no ms chairman all in favor say aye aye aye opposed abstentions the application is approved four zero um the uh long ridge and wire mill project is continued till our next meeting um woodway pines is continued until our next meeting um that brings us to the end of the agenda um vanita do we have people who would like to speak yeah yeah okay this we have as a guest tonight uh ingrid gillespie from the stamford prevention council um she has worked with the land use bureau um on the uh regulations that we've uh that have evolved over the last year or two for smoke shops and um miss gillespie would like to speak to us about uh smoke shop regulations um what they feel uh should be done with them how they should be tightened and um and what she sees as some issues with those regulations oh i'm sorry we need a motion for new business can i get a motion for new put adding one more item to the agenda please mr chairman i'd like to make the motion for new business as being presented okay is there a second second third all in favor say aye aye okay good now we can go forward um so uh Ms.

Um sopi, welcome to the zoning board.

Um, I know you work with staff, although I don't think we've had the chance to uh to meet with you yet, but it's a pleasure.

And um please proceed.

And you're on mute.

Thank you.

Um I'd like to introduce my colleague, also Daniela Arias, who's um the co-chair along with myself of the Stanford Prevention Council and works closely on the zoning.

Um, so thanks for the opportunity to present, do uh an overview of our present of the work that we've been doing.

Um Daniela will pull up the slide.

We have a short PowerPoint that we'll just follow through with that.

Okay.

All right.

So um we actually sent this presentation to Ralph because we've been asked by different groups throughout Connecticut to present the work that we're doing.

So um, because it's quite unique, and other communities are really following some of the um unique zoning regulation changes that we've been doing in Stanford.

Next slide, please.

So just to give you a sense of who we are at Stanford Prevention Council.

Um, we are our overall goal is to reduce youth substance use through really working around positive youth and community and family development.

Um, we have over 20 plus uh agency members and over 65 members, pretty much 40 of them are what we would consider quite active.

Um we use data to drive what we do, whether it's qualitative or quantitative, and it fits into in the prevention world what we call the strategic prevention framework, where we say, okay, what is the data saying in terms of where are the gaps, what are the strengths, and then we develop plans um and implement plans and really monitor our work to see what the impact has been.

Um next slide, please.

So one of our issues uh with in Stanford that our youth survey showed was vaping was a critical issue and vaping nicotine and vaping marijuana, and we were constantly getting these questions from the community members.

Why are there so many smoke shops there everywhere?

Kids are getting marijuana from the cannabis dispensaries, kids can get alcohol from the bodegas package stores.

It's easy for kids to get vapes.

Those are some of the common statements.

So we literally methodically had to go through and really um do a deeper dive to answer those those questions.

So it really came down to in prevention.

We look at how do we reduce demand of a product and how do we reduce access?

And addressing the smoke shop issue was really around reducing access.

Next slide.

So we said, okay, our strategies included to really look at narrow down are the kids getting um cannabis marijuana vapes from the cannabis dispensaries.

So we had Department of Consumer Protection come down, do a really good presentation, and we threw that we realized that no, they were not getting the cannabis from the cannabis dispensaries.

They are getting it from other adults, including parents who were buying it from there, maybe not intentionally.

Um, but we looked at then it we narrowed it down to access was from the smoke shops.

And this was supported by so many um what we call key informant interviews from the police, um, from parents from schools, et cetera.

And so we said, okay, our first step was let's quantify the number of smoke shops via mapping.

Next slide.

Okay, I'll just throw this one in because this shows you in terms of who we work with around this issue.

There at the state level, we have a number of departments that are all involved in some way or another of the regulations and the line licensing of smoke shops.

So it's very important and difficult and challenging to keep um the communication between them, but we've been able to certainly um coordinate that to a certain extent.

So we have Department of Labor, uh, Department of Revenue New Services, Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department of Labor.

So there's a number of them that are all involved.

Next slide.

And that's at the state level, not the local.

So we we said, okay, let's map out.

And this was the first thing we did, I want to say two and a half years ago.

And the map really showed how many smoke shops, and we didn't even have a clear definition of that time, but how many places were selling vapes, which was really the biggest product we were looking at, tobacco, and we mapped it out and we mapped it out by zip code.

And the map clearly showed that 06902 zip code was where most of them were by far.

But the map itself, that's what really what we pulled up when it when we showed it at a council meeting.

Next slide, please.

So you can see that through that, and we looked at where the alcohol and the vape retailers were.

And Daniela, do you want to speak briefly to this?

Sure.

So we mapped the vape retailers first, and then we did the alcohol retailers.

And looking at it, um, and by the pie charts on the right, I was the same kind of outcome that they're most of the alcohol retailers were in the 06902 zip code, and you can see that shown there by the clusters and overlap.

Next slide.

Next slide, please.

Okay.

And then so that map, and at that point, we had invited um Ralph and Vanita to one of our meetings, and we really got to know them.

And putting this in perspective for this zoning board to know how unique it is to have zoning on a local prevention council.

Again, we have a number of communities that have reached out to us like, so how did you do that?

So and so we said, well, we'll start with a phone call.

But you know, um, Ralph and Vanita are very active members of our coalition and are a standing agenda item for updates, just so you can put some of the logistics, but none of us really understood how zoning worked.

So we asked them to come and present to us on how it worked with respect to smoke shop locations and densities, because that map really was a catalyst for many people to look at being able to quantify how many we had and where they were.

And so, yeah, they are now um Ralph and Vanita are very active members of our council.

Next slide.

Next slide, please.

So we in a nutshell, we looked at over the last two years, we've brought in through zoning a number of regulations.

The first one that was really significant was July of 2023, where we um redefined defined smoke shop as anybody whose retail space with more than 50% was dedicated to tobacco.

And if they were defined as a smoke shop, if that's where you know that much product, they then were defined as the smoke shops, and smoke shops had to then go through the same special permit process as cannabis dispensaries.

I can't tell you how significant that is, because it was there that all of a sudden we weren't able to address the ones that existed, but we were able to put a stop to so many coming in.

Vanita will regularly we check in with her and she'll tell you there's been no new smoke shop applications since then.

That doesn't mean the ones that are grandfathered in, but no new ones.

So that was significant.

Well, fast forward zoning took it even further for us and said, okay, now we have as of last year, um, smoke shops are defined of any more than 10% of their retail spaces dedicated to tobacco products.

They're defined as a smoke shop.

So that could be gas stations, that could be anybody.

And if they that they have to go through the special permit process, unless I say they're grandfathered in, looked at restricted where new ones could come in.

Um, the zoning restrictions, the locations, a number of things.

But um the fact of the definition redefining it, and as strict as it is, again, is quite unique to us.

So that has really helped stop, but it hasn't, um, this is where we'll go through to the next slide.

What we need, okay.

The biggest gap right now is the cap.

We do not have a cap on the number of smoke shops that um can happen in Stanford.

There's not a state cap on that.

There is a cap on alcohol uh retailers, one per 2500, but we don't have a cap smoke shops, and right now we're working with Ralph and Vanita because we want to um we are working on on recommending a cap, but we want it to be based on science or math, meaning what's the science behind it, where does density show in terms of youth use and the impact, all of those kinds of um aspects of it.

So that if a store tries to come in and they're already grandfathered in, but if there's a cap, they can't come in.

So we've had that like on Bedford Street, um, which we didn't understand, and that was kind of news to us that a uh store closed down and another one came in.

Um, so that's what we're working on.

We'll probably work on that at the state level also.

Our council does an annual legislative forum with state and local officials.

Um, but in a nutshell, we've restricted where new ones can come in.

We've redefined what they are signage.

Um there's signage laws, zoning enforcement has now up to capacity staff.

So we're really to monitor that.

Next slide, please.

So this is an example.

We're constantly educating all of us, including the general public.

We went to West End, we've done there.

And so for people to understand what signage is.

So when they see a sign, and if they look to see that the signage is not within that, they can simply make that phone call and really help zoning enforcement out.

Um, but we also put together tobacco retailer package, and we go out.

In fact, I was just out to a new one, but we think is a new one on Greenwich Avenue, and reviewing all of the regulations, including signage that that's important because it really does the science shows that what a child sees when they walk down the street has an impact on their perception of risk of harm.

So it's not just about the sales, it's the visual also.

Next.

So alcohol retailers.

Daniela, what have we learned?

Yeah, so we looked at alcohol to see if there were any similar regulations to smoke shops and things like that.

We discover that there aren't.

So for alcohol retailers, there is no mandated education.

Um, so anything like safe serving, uh tips trainings, all of that is um not mandatory for them, um, which we're looking to potentially change that in some way, just like um those who have the e-cigarette license, um, they have to take a mandated tobacco uh merchant uh education test.

Um so that would be beneficial for alcohol.

We also learned for local zoning that there are different um liquor and package stores um regulations with that.

One of our council members actually brought to our attention a local gas station who was looking to apply for an uh package store permit.

And as we looked deeper into it, we realized that there are stricter um regulations for liquor stores.

So those are the stores that sell beer and hard liquor versus package stores, which are your convenience stores, your bodegas, and local gas stations, and we realize that there are no regulations for that.

Um that includes things of so package stores can go anywhere.

So they can be right next to each other, they could be a few doors down versus liquor stores.

They have certain distances that they have to be from one another.

What could excuse me, what can the package stores sell?

So they cannot sell hard alcohol, but they can sell beer and those kind of new um energy drinks that have you know alcohol in it.

So things like four logos and that kind of thing.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, and then density, Daniela.

Yes.

So as Ingrid had mentioned, there is a statewide density cap for 25 um per 2500 per uh the population.

Sorry.

Um, so with that, we're also looking to lower that because once this package store had gotten their approval, we realized there's 17 permits still left available, but we have over a hundred package stores in Stanford.

And we were just on Greenwich Avenue the other day, and there's two side by side within a one block, there's a bodega that sells tobacco.

I think it sells beer, and then you go across the street, there's a liquor store right beside it, two doors down is another liquor store, and then right down beside it is a new convenience store that is selling vapes that we're investigating right now, and then kitty corner to that.

So anybody families work in that area, that's what the density is on that short block.

Next street, a next street, next slide, please.

Okay, so we spent a lot of time tracking the retailer compliance.

Um, retailer compliance falls into selling uh under to underage, so that could be vapes.

But there's also, as you're probably aware, a number of our smoke shops that sell illegal THC products.

And there was a law effective in October 2024 where the landlord is now held accountable and can be fined, I think up to 10,000.

So we've got about eight um smoke shops that were violators selling illegal THC.

Landlords have received this letter, and the police are following up with them.

But we also follow the underage sales and we detail it very closely to make sure that there's compliance.

And we've got a couple of stores that we're not sure why they have their license, but we now have all the details to show they violated four times within the last two years, and we're not sure why they still have their license.

And that's something that we're um asking the state next.

Next slide.

Yeah, so um, yeah, so we also um look at uh the checklist, they're very detailed checklists, but the police use them, and it's really been helpful for us.

Next slide.

The other thing is that we also track retailer education.

So we're trying to develop relationships with the retailers.

We've got had really good conversations with them.

Um, you know, our ultimate goal is about not selling underage, and yes, about reducing the density um and um working with them.

Um so we I've taken my laptop in and said it's an online training, it's 20 minutes.

I've taken my laptop in and said, here business was slow, help them click in so that they could walk through and actually do the um education piece of it.

So um last slide, I think that's it.

But we just wanted to say, let you know that we uh this wouldn't be possible without Ralph and Vanita and the zoning, um, because it's critical um to this, and again, it's quite unique for Connecticut communities.

There's uh some others that are doing some zoning thing, but I think what's unique is that we have zoning as very active members of our prevention council, and it's ultimately about the plan 2035.

We're trying to build healthy communities and how does this fit in?

So it's all connected.

So thanks for letting us brag about Ralph and Vanita.

Thank you.

Well, um, we're we're very proud of them also.

Um, and this board, the zoning board, um, I think felt um strongly about the um the new restrictions we placed on the uh on the smoke shop.

So um we were happy to uh be part of that effort.

Um board members, do you have any questions for uh Ms.

Cal SP?

Well I have I have a quick one.

Um do you have any proof that any of the licensed cannabis dispensaries are selling to child children?

No, we've investigated that um quite thoroughly in a number of different ways, and no, not that does not mean that they're not accessing it indirectly, um, whether it's from parents not locking it up or from you know young adults and purchasing it, but the kid, the anybody under 21, it's quite difficult to actually get from them.

The biggest culprit are these smoke shops that are selling the illegal by far.

Yeah, and I wish we had I wish we had more staff on our police department that could uh crack down on that more.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You're right, because it's it is taking a lot of resources for us to try to stay on top of it.

Yeah, thanks.

You're welcome.

Okay.

Yeah, Ingrid, if I got a question real quick.

Do you do you have any idea on um how we could legal legally uh put a cap on smoke shops?

Well, I know how we did it with the cannabis because you've got to confuse the state.

Well, with the state not controlling smoke shops, how do we do that?

So um, I was at an event where one of the board of reps actually said, and I'm sorry, I don't have her name in front of me, but Ralph and I have talked about this where the board of reps and Ralph please jump in, but they could make um an amendment, right?

So um, I think there's two options.

One would be um looking into zoning regulations if it's been done in other places.

Um I think it's it's really also looking into uh numbers that make sense, so that they are defensible if there is uh a lawsuit.

Um and the other thing is that uh the board of reps could uh potentially pass an ordinance to limit the number of um uh smoke shops and put a cap on it.

So it's a little bit trying to figure out what the most effective means is of controlling uh the number and what creates the the least uh potential legal liabilities for the city.

New York City.

Um we had a presentation from them because they do have an initiative where they put a cap on in within certain neighborhoods, um which they found again to be effective.

We're doing sort of a follow-up with them to see how that's going.

But there's a lot of research that supports the density around alcohol retailers and the impact on youth use.

They've done a lot of that.

So we're taking some of that when we were we use some of that data when we were advocating for reducing the number of cannabis dispensaries, which by the way, Stanford, um, one per 30,000.

Um again, we have a number of communities that have congratulated us on that.

Um so yeah, so there's some research that's looking at and that's what we're doing right now.

So it's like what what is the science show?

And taking in these other considerations.

Um, because it's otherwise we just have so many grandfathered in that um it's really difficult.

Yep.

Yes.

Okay, okay.

Anything else from the board.

No.

Well, well, thank you for um for joining us tonight and um filling us in.

Um you know, we we work in sometimes without all of this information that you provided, and so this is useful to get and find out what's going on in the the real world, and um uh it sounds like uh if the board is interested in um in um taking up any further zoning regarding smoke shops that um we will need to um uh work with our staff on it and take another look.

So um thank you for joining us tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Okay, take care of your hard work.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Okay.

Um so what do we have on for our next meeting, Benita?

I'm afraid to ask.

Yes, uh, it does look like a marathon meeting.

Um so we have two continuations.

One is the Wood Vapein's application from tonight, the other one is the Viomin application.

Um, and then we have two new hearings scheduled for that date.

One is actually three.

So one is 23 Barry Place.

Um that's you know the the apartment building and townhouses development close to the ice skating rink.

Um the other applications are 120 and 120 C Longridge Road.

Uh, we're moving them together because they're next to each other.

Um, so they're also scheduled at the same time.

I will let the applicants know that we have other continuations from previous meetings, so there's a high chance of these being open and continued um based on how the other hearings go.

Yeah, it's um I'm not sure that we're gonna get to those, but um we'll just carry them over.

Uh very good do what we can.

Okay, and Vanita won't be here to usher us through.

Uh-oh.

You have to deal with the B team.

Yes.

Yeah.

Okay.

Well, um, this is gonna be a big packet, or I should say big packets that we'll be getting um coming up.

Um good.

Well, winter is coming if you need paper to uh light the fire in the chimney.

We'll certainly make sure of that.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Um okay.

I anything else that uh we need to discuss before we adjourn.

No.

Can we get a motion to adjourn then, please?

So moved.

Second.

Okay, all in favor, say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

We are adjourned.

Thank you.

Good night, everyone.

Good night, everybody.

Be well.

Good night.